Keeping men healthy

He's never done it before, but after attending a seminar on men's health in Waukegan Saturday, Fred Turman said he's going to start reading food labels.

"I'm going to look for fiber and trans fat content," he said.

Turman of Waukegan was among several dozen men, one woman and her grandchildren who attended the Lake County Health Departments' men's health seminar at Waukegan Community Church.

June is National Men's Health Month, and the week up through Father's Day is National Men's Health Week.

Lake County Health Department senior dietitian and nutrition education counselor Demetrius Willis offered steps men can take to get healthier, and a few simple science lessons on why caring for the body is important. Much of the information applied to men and women.

It's important to have these kinds of programs for men, said Willis' mother, Frances Willis, a retired nurse from Zion who came to the presentation. "Men don't pay as much attention to their health as women do."

A study by Men's Health Network showed that 79 percent of men found it easier to take care of their cars than their health.

Parks and Play incorporates the district's recreational, cultural arts and parks departments to provide a variety of wellness and nature activities...

But they can take simple steps to improve their health, Willis said: Drink more water. Eat more fiber. Get more exercise.

Eating properly and getting physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, the No. 1 killer in men, he said, acknowledging that can be difficult when so many products are sold that aren't good for health.

To be healthy, it's important to understand that and know what to believe and what not to believe, he said.

"You hear Steve Harvey promote these things, and you think, if Steve Harvey does it, it must be good." Not necessarily, he said.

"I want to talk science with you — this is how your body works."

Carbohydrates, which include fruit, pasta, bread and cereal, are used by the body for energy. They take the least amount of time to digest. "You eat a slice of bread or a doughnut and you're hungry again in 30 minutes. If you add protein, it takes longer to get hungry because it takes longer for protein to break down."

There's one super food that keeps you full longer and helps keep your system clean. It's fiber.

"An apple a day," one participant said.

Yes, Willis said. "Fruits with skin have the most fiber."

The average person eats 15 grams of fiber a day and men need at least 25 to 38, he said.

Besides eating the apple, check the labels on products such as bread. A single serving of bread needs to have at least three grams of fiber; otherwise, don't eat it, he said.

"Adding more fiber is a very easy step," he said.

"What about grits?" someone asked.

"Well they are tasty," he said. "I grew up with grits." But there's not much nutritional value in grits, he pointed out.

One of the worst things to eat is trans fat, he said. You shouldn't eat any of it. He demonstrated what happens to arteries that get clogged with trans fat by using two pieces of red construction paper attached to create a vessel. He asked two participants to stuff tissue paper into the vessel.

"There's that cheeseburger, there are those fries," he said.

"Cheddar cheese fries," a participant said, laughing.

"This is what happens. You keep stuffing it in and there's nowhere for it to go," Willis said.

You can choose good fats such as olive oil which are liquid at room temperature, and omega 3, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease, he said.

"Physical activity is one of the most amazing things you can do for your body," Willis told the participants. "With exercise, your brain releases endorphins. It gives you a feeling of happiness. It helps you sleep better."

And it can help men who are depressed, he said.

Male deaths represent 79 percent of all U.S. suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in men.

Start slowly, by walking — eventually your body will want to increase the activity level, according to Willis.

Participant Leo Cooper, 53, said after hearing Willis talk he's going to try to eat more fiber, drink more water and exercise more.

"I want to stay healthy because I have a young son," he said.

Lawrence Tyler Jenkins, a young man from Waukegan, admitted he had a couple of doughnuts that day, but has been trying to eat better. He plays football and basketball and is on the track team and knows eating well helps him perform better.

"It's more about willpower," he said. "I was raised on eggs and pancakes."

Finally, Willis said, know your family's history.

"My dad has diabetes and high cholesterol. I know it runs in my family, so I stay physically active," Willis said. He also drinks lots of water, which is a good habit for men to develop. "Keep a bottle of water in your car, at your desk."

Waukegan Community Church pastor Winfred J. Obleton, who attended the event told the participants, "We need to take care of ourselves and our bodies. Go home and take a walk with your family."